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Confronting coal in Europe

Get Serious, Quit Coal! Greenpeace activists deliver the message to a meeting of major polluters in Poland. Enlarge Image

UN climate negotiations begin in Poznan

It has been a year since governments in Bali pledged to nail down an agreement to save the climate by December 2009. That means they have one year left to agree on how to stop the climate crisis. This year’s UN meeting on Climate Change has just started in Poznan, Poland and we think it is about time for government leaders to stop the talking, get serious and start real negotiations.

In the run up to the Poznan Cop14 climate summit, approximately twenty Greenpeace activists tip coal from a tipper truck and display banners reading 'Get serious, quit coal!' outside the Sheraton hotel, where the Summit on Sectoral Cooperation is being held. Greenpeace is targeting the meeting attended coal companies, heavy industry and at least 20 industry ministers by releasing its "True Cost of Coal" report, outlining the global cost of coal today. Enlarge Image

The True Cost of Coal

If we are to avert catastrophic climate change the world must quit coal. But, the industry and the powerful forces which rely on it will not go down without a fight. Today, in Warsaw, Greenpeace, provided them with two reminders of why we should quit coal.

Greenpeace opens a Climate Rescue Station on the edge of an open coal mine in Poland. Coal the single greatest threat facing our climate. Poland uses coal to produce 93% of its electricity. The Station has been set up in the run up to crucial UN climate negotiations in Poznan, Poland this December. Despite hosting the talks, Poland is attempting to obstruct the negotiations and to undermine the EU’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Enlarge Image

Polish mine workers attack peaceful Greenpeace protest

Peaceful protesters from the Greenpeace Climate Rescue Station were attacked by mine workers when they entered the vast Jóźwin IIB open pit mine. As the activists prepared to paint a huge "Stop" sign next to a giant excavator they were assaulted and prevented from carrying out their peaceful protest. A journalist accompanying the activists was beaten. Local people are also against the expansion of this mine, because it threatens their homes and livelihoods.

The Rainbow Warrior boarded by the Dutch Police. After a day of protest inside and outside the E.on power station in Rotterdam, the police stormed the Rainbow Warrior, searched and took the details of all the crew onboard. Enlarge Image

Rainbow Warrior impounded by Dutch police

The Rainbow Warrior has been impounded and the captain arrested after it was boarded by the police three times over the weekend. The ship was part of a protest against the new coal fired power station that E.ON is building next to their existing climate-changing coal plant. The Rainbow Warrior together with one of our other ships - the Beluga II - were blocking the coal port of Rotterdam to stop any coal ships from entering. After spending the day surrounded by police boats they were eventually forced to leave the coal port in the evening.

400 people living around a huge open cast mine near Konin, Poland, joined Greenpeace today to reclaim the land occupied by the mine, the second biggest in Poland, which threatens their homes and livelihoods. At noon, local residents together with 7 mayors from villages and towns that are facing destruction because of the mine's expansion, gathered at Greenpeace's Climate Rescue Station on the edge of the Jozwin II B pit, which is owned by KBW Konin. Enlarge Image

Konin coalition stands up against coal

Our team at the Climate Rescue Station in Poland joined 400 local people who live close to an open coal mine for a mass demonstration. Seven mayors from nearby villages and towns, which are facing destruction because of the mine's expansion, also attended.

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